Diseases and Conditions

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

What is Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a neurological disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral
nervous system. The onset can be quite sudden and unexpected. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke (NINDS), the disorder can develop over a few days, or it may take up to several weeks. A person experiences the
greatest weakness within the first two weeks after symptoms appear. By the third week, 90 percent of all patients are at the
weakest point in their illness.

Who is affected by Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Although rare, the NINDS says that GBS afflicts about one person in 100,000. The syndrome can affect people at any age and
both men and women equally. The disorder usually occurs a few days or weeks after a person has had symptoms of a respiratory
or gastrointestinal viral infection.

What causes Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Currently, it is not known why Guillain-Barré strikes some people. What is known is that the body's immune system begins to
attack the body itself.

Normally, the cells of the immune system attack only foreign material and invading organisms, but in Guillain-Barré syndrome,
the immune system starts to destroy the myelin sheath that surrounds the axons of many nerve cells, and, sometimes, the axons
themselves.

When this occurs, the nerves cannot send signals efficiently, the muscles lose their ability to respond to the commands of
the brain, and the brain receives fewer sensory signals from the rest of the body. The result is an inability to feel heat,
pain, and other sensations.

Guillain-Barré syndrome can occur after a viral infection, surgery, trauma, or a reaction to an immunization.

What are the symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome?

The following are the most common symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome. However each individual may experience symptoms differently.

The first symptoms include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs, which, sometimes, spreads to the
arms and upper body. The symptoms may increase in severity until the following does or does not occur--in these cases, the
disorder is considered a medical emergency:

Muscles cannot be used at all

The patient becomes nearly paralyzed

It may become difficult to breathe

Blood pressure and heart rate are affected

Although symptoms can become life-threatening, partial recovery is possible from even the most severe cases of Guillain-Barré
syndrome. However, some degree of weakness may still be present.

The symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Always consult your doctor for
a diagnosis.

How is Guillain-Barré syndrome diagnosed?

According to the NINDS:

GBS is called a syndrome rather than a disease because it is not clear that a specific disease-causing agent is involved.
A syndrome is a medical condition marked by a collection of symptoms, or what the patient feels, and signs, or what a doctor
can observe or measure. The signs and symptoms of the syndrome can be quite varied, so doctors may, on rare occasions, find
it difficult to diagnose GBS in its earliest stages.

Signs and symptoms that may differentiate Guillain-Barré from other disorders include the following. With Guillain-Barré:

Symptoms appear on both sides of the body.

Symptoms appear quickly--days or weeks as opposed to months.

Reflexes are usually lost.

Cerebral spinal fluid that bathes the spinal cord and brain contains more protein than usual.

Other diagnostic procedures include the following:

Spinal tap (also called a lumbar puncture). A special needle is placed into the lower back, into the spinal canal. This is the area around the spinal cord. The pressure
in the spinal canal and brain can then be measured. A small amount of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) can be removed and sent
for testing to determine if there is an infection or other problems. CSF is the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord.

Electrodiagnostic tests, such as electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction velocity (NCV). Studies that evaluate and diagnose disorders of the muscles and motor neurons. Electrodes are inserted into the muscle, or
placed on the skin overlying a muscle or muscle group, and electrical activity and muscle response are recorded.

What is the treatment for GBS?

Specific treatment for Guillain-Barré syndrome will be determined by your doctor based on:

Your age, overall health, and medical history

Extent of the syndrome

Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies

Expectations for the course of the syndrome

Your opinion or preference

Currently, there is no known cure for Guillain-Barré syndrome. The goal of treatment is to prevent breathing problems and
provide supportive care (relief of symptoms). Medications are used to control pain and other conditions that may be present.
In addition, treatments, such as plasmapheresis or immunoglobulin administration, may be used to suppress the immune system
and/or reduce inflammation caused by the immune system’s response to the disease.

Plasmapheresis is a procedure that removes the plasma (liquid part of the blood) and replaces it with other fluids. Antibodies
are also removed with the plasma, which is thought to help reduce the symptoms of the disease. Another treatment is the administration
of immunoglobulin, a blood product that helps to decrease the immune system’s attack on the nervous system.